Hotel Chocolat Group plc is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Alexander as the company’s non-executive chair, effective on 5 May 2023.

Alexander has held numerous chair roles of public and private equity-backed companies for more than 20 years, including Dairy Crest, Immediate Media, Rhubarb Foods, EMI Group, Odeon Cinemas, AWAS Aircraft Leasing and Meridien Hotels.

In his executive career, Alexander was CEO of Hillsdown Holdings. Before that, he spent 17 years at Allied Domecq, where he was chief executive of both the food and retailing divisions, including 4,500 pubs and 9,000 fast food restaurants. He has also chaired the charities Look Ahead and Employment Autism.

Alexander is currently an operating partner with private equity group OpCapita LLP.

Angus Thirlwell, co-founder and chief executive officer of Hotel Chocolat, said: “Stephen’s significant experience chairing companies in the food manufacturing and retail space in the UK and overseas will be invaluable as we take the business through its next chapter of growth.”